Pneumatic ammunition-conveying apparatus.



I. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. II, 1909.

Patented July 27, 1915.

I8 SHEETS-SHEET I.

VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11, 1909.

1,148,080. Patented July 27, 1915.

1a SHEETSV-SHEET 2.

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l livl/ervi'oh- COLUMBIA PLANMRAPH 60.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I1, 1909- Patented July 27, 191".

18 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH COuWASHlNGTON, [1.5.

J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. II, I909.

1,148,080, Patented July 27, 1915.

l8 SHEETS-SHEET 4. I" I I" J .4. II

559 IIIIIIII A llllfll l I AI- COLUMBIA PLANDCIRAPH CO., WASHINGTON, D.c.

J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11. 1909.

1,148,080. Patented July 27, 1915.

I8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

1 z W J 6 M cuLunpmA PLANOGRRPH co wnsnmarou. n. c.

J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION'FILED OCT. H. I909.

l8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Patented July 27, 1915.

cuumum PLANOGRM'H c0.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

- APPLICATION FILED OCT. II, T909. 1,148,080. Patented July. 27, 1915.

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' war/@5566: iii/00765321 a. fa I z 0% COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH :0"WASHINGTON, D. c.

J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11. 1909.

Patented July 27, 1915. 18 SHEETS-SHEET a.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH COWWASHING'TON. 0. c4

J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMAT IC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.I1. 1909.

1,148,080. Patented July 27, 1915.

I8 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

COLUMBIA ,PLANDGRAPH co., WASHlNGTON, D. c.

1,148,080. Patented July 27, 1915.

I8 SHEETS-SHEET H.

i 206 /0/ ma "1TH J I I3 3/3 60 z f fi 30? Z07 Z Z7v0@7v%2-:

J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED on. n. 1909.

1,148,080. Patented July 27, 1915.

I8 SHEETS-SHEET I2.

COLUMBIA PLANOEIRAPH CO..WASHIN'7C". D c.

I. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS;

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I1, 1909.

Patented July 27, 1915.

I3 SHEETS-SHEET I3.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co WASHINGTON. D c4 APPLICATION FILED OCT. l 1909.

Patented July 27, 1915.

I8 SHEETS-SHEET l4.

ANOGRAPH c0, WASHINGTON. D. c.

.l. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. II. 909.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAIH co.,wAsmNGTuN. D. C.

J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS;

- APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11. 1909.

1,148,080. Patented July 27, 1915.

I8 SHEETS-SHEET 16.

I. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. II. I909.

Patented July 27, 1915.

I8 SHEETS-$HEET II.

A .v I IIIII) COLUIIBIA WRAP" CO" WASHINGTON. D- C- J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 00111. I909.

1,148,080. Patented July 27, 1915.

I8 SHEETSSHEET l8.

JAMES T. COJVLEY, OF MINOT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSONCOMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PNEUMATIC AMBIUNITION-CONVEYING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 11, 1909.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES T. COWLEY, of Minot,in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic AmmunitionConveyingApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic ammunition conveyingapparatus, and its object is to provide a device for rapidly handlingand safeguarding the conveyance of ammunition from the handling room ofa magazine to a receiving station or turret adjacent the guns.

The present invention has been made and will be illustrated anddescribed in connection with the pneumatic ammunition conveyingapparatus of my prior application, Serial No. 451,061, filed August 31,1908, and the invention consists of certain improvements by which a highspeed and greater certainty and safety of action may be secured in thatapparatus, but these improvements may be applied also to pneumaticammunition conveying apparatus other than that shown in said priorapplication.

The invention relates particularly to the provision of means forremoving from the conveyer the pushers used in conveying the ammunitionand the construction of the pusher itself, the closing of the conveyerbehind the receiving terminal when the receiving terminal is open, thecontrol of the opening of the despatching terminal from the receivingterminal, the construction of the air admission mechanism, theconstruction of the powder receiver, and to means for cushioning andpreventing recoil of the shell on its delivery in the receivingterminal, but includes other detail improvements, all as fully describedhereafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a construction embodyingmy invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the lower end of thesystem located in the handling room showing the despatching terminal andthe air supply reservoir connected therewith. Fig. 2 is a continuationof the device shown in Fig. 1 showing the conveyer tube extending fromthe well to the turret with the receiving terminal at the upper endthereof and adjacent the guns. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation partly insection show- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1915.

Serial No. 522,100.

ing the valve-operating mechanism located on the opposite side of thedespatching inlet shown in Fig. 1 with parts in position for theoperator to admit air pressure to despatch the charge resting within theterminal. Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of the despatching inletshowing the mechanism partly in section located in the front of thedespatching terminal shown in Fig. 1 and showing the same in positionfor holding the gate locked while the load is in transit. Fig. 5 is avertical longitudinal section through Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a frontelevation of Fig. 3 showing the mouth of the despatchin g inlet with thecontrolling gate and cap removed. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the innerface of the gate at the despatching terminal. Fig. 8 is a detail of thevalvelocking mechanism at the despatching terminal. Fig. 9 is asectional view of the locking mechanism for controlling the gate, theoperating lever and the main air admission valve. Fig. 10 is an enlargedside elevation of the receiving terminal shown in Fig. 2 partly insection' Fig. 11 is a front elevation of Fig. 10 showing the powderreceptacle and locking mechanism in section and in normal position. Fig.12 is an enlarged sectional View of the upper portion of thereceptacle-locking and powder cushioning mechanism. Fig. 13 is a sectionon line 1313 Fig. 10. Fig. 14 is a rear end elevation of Fig. 10 with aportion of the apron counter-balancing mechanism in section. Fig. 15 isa vertical sectional view on line 1515 Fig. 10 looking in the directionof the arrow. Fig. 16 is an enlarged sectional view on line 1616 Fig. 10looking in the direction of the arrow and showing in addition theshell-cushioning levers and a portion of the recoil mechanism. Fig. 17is an enlarged side elevation of the shellcushioning lever and recoilmechanism shown in Figs. 10 and 16. Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken online 1818 Fig. 17 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 19 is arear elevation of the powderreceptacle. Fig. 20 is a sectional view ofthe powder receptacle taken on line 20-20 Fig. 19. Fig. 21 is asectional view showing the receptacle-locking mechanism in its normalposition. Fig. 22 is an enlarged side elevation of the valvecontrolledconnection between the upper bend of the conveyor tube and the returntube, showing parts in normal position.

avoid shock.

Fig. 23 is a similar View to Fig. 22 showing the valve mechanism insection. Fig. 24: is a sectional View taken on line 2424 Fig. 23. Fig.25 is a detail sectional view of the cushioning spring shown in Fig. 10and hereafter described. Fig. 26 is a front elevation of the pusher orcarrier. Fig. 27 is a central sectional view on line 27-27 Fig. 26; Fig.28 1s a diagrammatlc elevation on the same scale as Fig. 10, showing amodified arrangement of the devices for pneumatically con trolling thegate and air admission mechanism from the turret.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2: A represents the handling room of a warshipadj acent the magazine and from which the ammunition is required to beconveyed to the turret B for use in the guns.

1 represents a despatching terminal secured to the terminal base plate 2in said handling room and 3 is a conveyer tube connecting the terminal 1with the receiving terminal 4 located in the turret B, said tubeextending through the well 5 connecting the turret with the handlingroom. Through this tube 3, the ammunition is conveyed from the handlingroom to the turret by means of compressed air which acts-upon acarrieror pusher 6 which is adapted to fit over the Compressed air for drivingthe charge is ,stored in a reservoir 9 which is connected by a supplypipe 10 with the despatching terminal 1. The compressed air reservoir 9is connected (Fig. 1) with a source of air pressure by a pipe 9* inwhich. is located a reducing valve 9. The reservoir 9 containssuflicient air for the delivery of a charge but is of such size as tosecure such a drop in pressure during transmission as to lower the speedof the ammunition at delivery and When the pressure in reservoir 9 hasdropped below a determined point, air is admitted through the reducingvalve 9 and pipe 9 until the pressure in said reservoir reaches normal,whenthe supply through pipe 9 is automatically cut off.

The operation in brief is as follows: The deliveryof a charge in thereceiving terminal 4 actsto exhaust the air pressure in pipe 11connecting the receiving terminal 4: with the despatching terminal 1,which releases the gate 12 (Fig. 4:) closing the entrance to thedespatching terminal 1, allowing said gate 12 to be opened automaticallyby spring 13 located in cap 14.- (Fig. 5), which cap is secured to theface of the terminal and in which the gate 12 is movably mounted. Thisexhaust of the air pressure in pipe 11 also closes the air admissionvalve 39 and cuts off the air from the conveyer, and locks the operatinglever 17 to prevent the air being admitted until the receiving terminalis ready to receive another charge. 7

A charge consisting of two powder'bags and shell with a pusher orcarrier 6 on the conical end of the shell (Fig. 1) having beenpreviously placed on the chute 15 as shown, is immediately pushed intothe despatching terminal and the gate v 12 closed, the charge remainingin the terminal until the charge previously despatched has been removedfrom the receiving terminal 45 in the turret and said terminal closedagain to a position ready to receive another charge. As soon as thecharge has been removed from the re ceiving terminal and said terminalcompletely closed, the air pressure will build up in pipe 11 unlockingthe operating lever.

4:7 which when moved willadmit air from the supply pipelO intothedespatching terminaland transmit the charge resting in the terminal.When this charge arrives in the receiving terminal 4., the powder bagswill pass through the upper bend in the conveyer tube 3 and into thehopper or; receptacle 16.

The arrival of the shell exhausts the air I pressure in pipe 11 and alsounlocks the receptacle 16 permitting it to be moved either to the rightor left, for removing the powder bags, while either movement unlocks theapron. 17 on its respective side, upon which the shell rolls out ontosaid apron into aline-.

ment with the gun. When this receptacle is moved through suitable linkconnections, a valve 20 located in casing 7 is rotated; this valve 20 isso constructed as to permit the passage of the powder and shell therethrough but is adapted to stop and hold the pusher or carrier 6 whichdrives the charge. When the valve 20 is turned, due to the linkconnections with the receptacle 16 and the movement of the same, thisvalve is brought into alinement with the return tube 8 allowthepusher todrop down through said tube into the handling room A. where it isreceived in pocket 18; On account of the inn terlocking mechanismlocated in the receiving terminal 4, it 1s necessary to close the apron17 before closing the receptacle 16,

and also on account of the connection between this receptacle 16 andvalve 20, the conveying tube 3 is shut off from communication with thehandling room at all times when the terminal 4 is open. The arrival of acharge in the receiving terminal 4: instantly

